New players tend to take the spotlight with changes of that nature. And despite having just 31 carries through 2024, that player so far for the Eagles this season has been senior running back Nick McCully.

Through just six quarters of the Eagles’ 2025 campaign, McCully had already surpassed that 2024 carry total, operating as an effective bell cow from Day One and averaging 22 carries through three outings. An uptick like that comes with a lot of pressure but the senior’s been up to the task, taking motivation from the team’s prior success.

“I knew that two years ago, there were big shoes to fill. And even coming off the last year, there were big shoes to fill,” said McCully after taking on a career-high 28 rushes in Week 3. “I just had to aim for that.”

In aiming to meet those standards, the senior hasn’t really missed. With enough experience from his junior campaign to know what to expect, preparation and mentoring from his coaching staff and most notably, an experienced offensive line, he’s been able to prosper immediately in his elevated role.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area’s Nick McCully (41) runs the ball during Friday’s 21-0 win over Penns Valley.

He was a bright spot in Bald Eagle’s opening two-game span of losses, making up much of the team’s offense in a defensive slugfest against Huntingdon and surpassing 100 rushing yards for a second time against Penn Cambria (despite the team falling behind by four scores). And those performances were just precursors for what’s been his best so far.

Against the Rams on Friday, McCully set the tone immediately, combining a strong initial burst, sound vision and the strength to drag multiple defenders to pick up carries of five and nine yards on the team’s opening drive. And he’d never let up from there.

Of his 28 carries, 16 on the night spanned five yards or more while he had just one negative rush and nine that picked up two yards or less. He secured one of Bald Eagle’s four first downs on its opening drive and played a massive role in its game-sealer in the fourth, breaking off runs of 27 and 25 yards to help the Eagles clear most of the field and eventually go up by three scores to three minutes to go.

While he hasn’t scored his first touchdown of the season yet, those are the kinds of drives he strives for.

“(I’m hoping to build on) those big explosive plays, making those long runs down the field, helping out the team,” said McCully. “Whatever it takes to win, I’m happy with.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle Area’s Grady Fisher (3) takes the snap as Gage Gardner, right, starts blocking for him during Friday’s 21-0 win over Penns Valley.

By the end of the night, McCully had amassed a career-high 175 yards on the ground and 186 all-purpose, good for an average of six yards per rush and touch. It was his third time surpassing 100 yards rushing, having rushed for 108 in their opener and 117 against Penn Cambria.

When asked about his keys to early success through 2025, McCully brought up his coaches and he and Nagle each credited his vision. McCully also mentioned the ability to fall forward, an ability which consistently showed itself against Penns Valley.

“This is going to be a really high compliment, but he’s probably got the best vision of a back we’ve had,” said Nagle on McCully. “He’s not the toughest, not the speediest we’ve ever had. But his vision is outstanding. He’ll see the whole backside and cut it back, great zone runner.”

His performance was the highlight of an overall outstanding day for the Eagles running the ball, as they took a season-high 51 carries and turned them into 261 yards of offense.

Once Bald Eagle obtained a lead, it was able to dominate time of possession and completely controlled the second half. It remains to be seen if they can match that production, especially as its schedule ups the competition level in the coming weeks, but it’s foreshadowing for what they can do when things go right.

Remove the early holding calls, and that formula could certainly pay dividends.

UNSUNG HEROES

Whether it was McCully’s performance, Grady Fisher’s 64-yard, two-touchdown rushing outing out of the Wildcat or the team’s ground game as a whole, every Eagle that discussed it was quick to point out the offensive line’s impact.

Much like Philadelphia or Penn State’s run success, they’re a huge reason the Bald Eagle Area run game has hit the ground running in 2025. They’re what allowed Fisher to break off two strong runs to secure the Eagles’ first touchdown, what allowed McCully and Fisher to combine for 239 yards and what allowed BEA to bulldoze its way into the win column on Friday.

“It definitely isn’t just me, our line played a big role in it,” said McCully when asked about his standout performance. “There was a bunch of work put in during the offseason to get where we are now, and it’s just time to show it and for it to pay off.”

“Line did great tonight,” emphasized Fisher. “They just kept pushing downhill, those holes opened up and I could just go.”

Of its returning core from last season, the least altered was said line. Four returning starters – senior Gage Gardner, senior Jake Gardner, junior Silas Wheeler and junior Steven Flick – make its line one of the most experienced in the Laurel Highlands, a factor that’s certainly helped them prosper in the run and keep first-year starting quarterback Kaleb Irion comfortable.

Gage Gardner received the biggest shoutout following Friday’s win, the leader of that line at center. On top of his impact there, he also generated two sacks and four tackles for loss for the Eagles against Penns Valley, playing a big role in keeping the Rams off balance.

“The kid’s out there on offense and defense busting his tail, working every single play of the game,” said McCully on Gardner. “We wouldn’t be able to run the ball like we did without somebody like him.”

POWER STRUGGLE

While there aren’t technically power rankings for this column, if there were, the most intriguing power struggle would come at the second and third positions. Jersey Shore (3-0) has quickly solidified itself in the hypothetical top slot. Bucktail (1-2) and Central Mountain (0-3) would be at No. 4 and 5. And at No. 2 and 3, Bald Eagle Area (1-2) stands in position to jump rival Bellefonte (1-2).

As it stands, the Red Raiders possessive the most impressive win out of the two, a 21-20, comeback victory over 2-1 Tyrone. But now, the teams hold the same 1-2 record, with the Eagles facing Tyrone Friday and Bellefonte matching up with 2-1 Clearfield.

Whatever happens there and in the following week, where BEA faces rising Philipsburg-Osceola (2-1) and Bellefonte faces Penns Valley, their Week 6 rivalry matchup holds serious intrigue. It could be their most even matchup of the 2020s so far.

For now, each team’s focus is set on what lies in front of it. Bald Eagle will look to build on its opening win, and Bellefonte look to get back on track following two losses, the latest being an impressive 7-0 defeat at the hands of defending state champ Bishop Guilfoyle.

–Henry Huber may be reached at hhuber@lockhaven.com. Follow him on Twitter/X at @HenryHuber_